The irony of it all

I found an interesting list inside the googleyweb that demonstrates just how many words, terms and spellings those pesky Americans have taken it upon themselves to change and to then broadcast to the world. I blame you for my young son calling me a 'jackass' a few weeks ago. I corrected him and told him I was in fact a Jack ARSE.


AMERICAN -----BRITISH

Airplane ----Aeroplane
Aluminum ----Aluminium
Apartment ----Flat
Appetizer ----Entree, Starter
Archeology ----Archaeology
Babysitter -----Minder
Baked Potato -----Jacket Potato
Bathroom -----Loo, The Toilet
Band-Aid -----Elastoplast (plaster)
Bank Teller -----Cashier
Bedspread -----Eiderdown and Duvet
Bleachers -----Terrace
Braces (for teeth) -----Brace
Call (on the phone) -----Ring
Cafeteria -----Refectory
Can -----Tin
Candy -----Sweets
*Catalog -----Catalogue
Cents -----Pence
Chapstick -----Lip Balm
*Check -----Cheque
Checkers -----Draughts
Chips -----Crisps
Cigarette -----Fag
Closet (bedroom) -----Wardrobe
Clumsy -----Cackhanded
Collect Call -----Reverse Charge Call
*Color -----Colour
Cookie ------Biscuit
Cotton Candy ------Candy Floss
Commercial ------Advertisment
Cracker -----Savoury biscuit
Crib -----Cot
Cross Walk -------Zebra Crossing, Pedestrian Crossing
Crossing Gaurd -----Lollipop Man
Cupcake -----Fairy Cake
*Curb -----Kerb
Dessert ------Afters, Pudding
Detour -----Diversion
Diaper -----Napkin, Nappy
Dollar Bill -----Note
Drugstore ------Chemist
Duplex -----Semi-Detached House
Eggplant ----Aubergine
Elevator -----Lift
Emergency Room ----Casualty
Eraser -----Rubber
Expensive ----Dear
Faucet -----Tap
*Favorite ----Favourite
Fire Department ----Fire Brigade
Flashlight ----Torch
A Flirt ----Tart
Freeway (Expressway) ----Motorway, Carriageway
Garbage Man ----Dustman
Garter Belt -----Suspenders
Gasoline ----Petrol
Gizzards ----Offal
Golashes ----Wellingtons, Wellies
*Gray ----Grey
Gutter ----Gully
Hamburger Bun ----Bap
*Honor ----Honour
Hood (car) ----Bonnet
Horny ----Randy
House (one story) ----Bungalow
*Humor ----Humour
Hungry ----Peckish
Jello ---Jelly
Jelly ----Jam
*Jewelry ----Jewellery
Kiss (passionate) ----Snog
Ladybug ----Ladybird
Line -----Queue
Living Room -----Lounge
Lawyer -----Barrister, Solicitor
Leash (Dog) ----Lead
Licens Plate -----Number Plate
Liquor store -----Off Licence, Offy
Mail -----Post
Mailbox ----- Postbox
Mail Carrier ----- Postman, Posty
*Maneuver ----- Manoeuvre
Math ----- Maths
Menopause ----- The Maenopause
*Mold ----- Mould
Movie ---- Film
Movie Theater ---- Cinema
Napkin ----- Serviette
Nudist -----Naturist
On/Off Ramp -----Slip Road
Oven -----Cooker
Overalls -----Dungarees
Overpass -----Flyover
Pacifier ----- Dummy
Pants ----- Trousers
Paper Towel ------Kitchen towel, Kitchen Paper
Parade -----Carnival
Parking Lot -----Car Park
Pharmacist ----Chemist
Picnic Basket ----- Picnic Hamper
Pie Crust ----- Pastry Base
Plastic Wrap ------Clingfilm
Private school -----Public school
Public School ------State school
Raincoat ------Mackintosh
Realtor -----Estate Agent
Rent (to) ----- Hire
Robe -----Dressing Gown
Sand Box -----Sand Pit
Santa Clause ----Father Christmas
Shopping Cart/ ----- Basket Trolley
Sidewalk ------Pavement
Sir Squire, ---- Guv'nor
Sneakers ----- Trainers, Plimsolls,Pumps
Soccer ----- Football
Spelled ----Spelt
Stroller ----Pram, Pushchair
Styrofoam ----- Polystyrene
Suspenders -----Braces
Sweater ----- Pullover, Jumper
Take-Out ----- Take-Away
Talk Show ----- Chat Show
Thumb Tack -----Drawing Pin
Tic Tac Toe ------Naughts and Crosses
*Tire ----- Tyre
Toothpick ----- Cocktail Stick
Track Housing ----- Housing Estate
Trailor ------Caravan
Trash -----Rubbish
Trash Can ----Bin, Dustbin (the one outside)
Truck ----Lorry
Trunk (car) ----Boot
Tuxedo ----Dinner Jacket
Undershirt -----Vest
Underwear ---- Pants, knickers
Vacation ----- Holiday
Vest -----Waistcoat
Wallet (Woman's) ----Purse
Washcloth -----Flannel
Windshield ---- Windscreen
Yard -----Garden
Zee (letter) ---- Zed
Zip Code ----- Post Code
Zucchin ----- Courgette

I think Linden should use combined English spelling variations to avoid cultural favoritism. For example, "Dear Avatar, we apologisze yet again for another unannounced outage and sympathisze for the loss of inventory that precipitated a visit to (the) hospital. Whilset we diligently run in circles to patch this mess and re-invent the wheel, we thank you for your continued custom-patronage."

Giraffes do not pee coffee. Probably a liver malfunction.

Waitress to cook:

"Hold the chicken and make it pea soup."

Considering that we invented the modern automobile, with the hood that the Brits insist on calling a bonnet, as well as the trunk that the Brits insist on calling a boot.....

It's not always true that we Americans have twisted around British words. That's one case where the Brits are the guilty party. As well as windshield/windscreen, probably, although I'm not sure about that.

I also wonder about things like Zip Code v. Post Code, would be interesting to see who came up with that first.

British PWNed

Oh, and by the way, a tart? That's something you eat. Potential innuendo there I suppose, but it still is a lot different from one who flirts.

Yeah, after reading the list properly it was a poor example.

I think every British person should apologize for rhyming slang.

I didn't think there was standardisation in English spelling until, at the earliest, the latter part of the eighteenth century, but I'm willing to be corrected if I am wrong.